Susan Paul Johnson

My mandala journey started at an Advent Labyrinth retreat in 1999. From those auspicious beginnings, where I drew a mandala depicting “Mary Said Yes”, to today where they are a part of my daily life and work, the simple shape of a circle has blessed me with an unpredictable and beautiful unfolding of meaning. I create mandalas as scriptural and spiritual reflections; I use them as a periodic daily practice towards self-understanding and actualization; I create mandalas as active meditations. Mandalas connect me to time and place, enhancing my experience of the moment and allowing me to travel back to that instant in time, no matter how extraordinary or mundane. Many connect me to a spiritual moment – a particular day in a church year (Ash Wednesday), or a particular experience (labyrinth walk).

In more recent years, I have felt called to share this journey with others as well. Right now, facilitating workshops is as much a part of my creative journey as creating mandalas. I have offered a variety of workshops and retreats focused on the church seasons, such as a Lenten Mandala group that is both about creating mandalas and journaling about them. I also do many workshops and retreats outside the church, to interested individuals and focused populations (women’s groups, congregations, mental health groups).